Project Manager

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Coffs Harbour; On-site; AUD 129,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flex time

Recreation leave (4 weeks)

Carers' and adoption leave

Job summary

NSW Public Works, part of the NSW DPI and Regional Development, seeks an experienced Project Manager based in Coffs Harbour. You will lead planning, procurement and delivery of complex infrastructure projects across regional NSW, guiding teams and coordinating clients, consultants and contractors.

The role emphasizes people leadership, risk management and delivering on safety, time, cost and quality targets, with flexible, people-first working conditions and a 35-hour week.

Qualifications

• Practical project management experience with a hands-on approach.
• Minimum five years’ relevant project/construction management experience.
• Strong commercial and contract management capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, procurement and delivery of complex infrastructure projects.
• Manage projects with varying size, complexity and risk across clients.
• Maintain project controls; manage budgets, variations, risks and contracts.
• Lead and develop people; coach and manage performance.
• Ensure safety and client outcomes across the project lifecycle.

Skills

Project management

People management

Budget management

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering/Construction/Project Management qualification

Job description

At NSW Public Works, no two projects are quite the same.

Lead complex projects, develop people and deliver infrastructure that makes a difference across regional NSW.

• Temporary full-time role for 2 years
• Based in Coffs Harbour
• Our employees work principally in the workplace
• $129,464 to $142,665 plus superannuation and leave loading
• Varied infrastructure projects across regional NSW

Diversity and inclusion are core DPIRD values. Everyone has the right to contribute and participate to their full potential. We are committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive culture that is respectful, welcoming and flexible - a workplace where our people feel supported, valued, and part of our collective success.

This role offers flexible, people-first working conditions

• 35-hour base working week
• Flexible start and finish times between 6am and 7pm, with core hours of 10am-3pm
• Flex time, allowing additional hours worked to be accrued and taken back as flex leave
• Generous leave arrangements, including carers', parental and adoption leave
• Four weeks recreation leave as standard.

About The Role

As a Project Manager with NSW Public Works, you'll lead the planning, procurement and delivery of complex infrastructure projects for our clients, taking responsibility for project, commercial, safety and client outcomes.

You'll manage projects of varying size, complexity and risk, including multiple concurrent projects across different clients and stages of delivery. You'll bring together clients, consultants, contractors and internal specialists to keep projects moving, manage risk and resolve issues.

You'll maintain effective project controls and manage contracts, budgets, variations, timeframes, quality and stakeholder expectations. You'll also identify, manage and escalation project and construction safety risks and promote safe delivery practices throughout the project lifecycle.

People leadership is an important part of the role. You'll manage and develop team members, set clear expectations, coordinate workloads and lead performance development through regular feedback, coaching and performance conversations.

It's a role for an experienced Project Manager who is comfortable taking ownership, making sound decisions and leading both projects and people.

The opportunity

This is an opportunity to use your project management experience across infrastructure projects and see the impact of your work in regional communities.

You’ll Have The Opportunity To

• manage projects through different stages of planning and delivery
• work directly with clients to solve practical project challenges
• work alongside experienced technical and professional specialists
• take ownership of your projects while having the support of a local team
• broaden your experience across different projects, clients and locations

About You

We're looking for someone with practical project management experience, good judgement and a hands-on approach to getting things done.

You’ll Be Someone Who

• Lead complex infrastructure projects from planning and procurement through construction, completion and handover.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects, taking accountability for safety, time, cost, quality, risk and client outcomes.
• Drive strong commercial and contract outcomes, managing budgets, variations, claims, consultants, contractors and project controls.
• Lead client and stakeholder relationships, resolving challenges early and coordinating multidisciplinary teams to achieve successful outcomes.
• Lead and develop people, setting clear expectations, managing performance and workloads, coaching team members and building capability through knowledge sharing and succession planning.

You’ll Also Bring

• Relevant trade, post-trade or tertiary qualifications in engineering, construction, project management or a related discipline.
• A minimum of five years’ relevant project or construction management experience within a commercial construction environment.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex projects through planning, procurement, construction, completion and handover, with accountability for safety, time, cost, quality and client outcomes.
• Strong commercial and contract management capability, including managing budgets, risk, variations, claims, consultant and construction contracts, and competing project priorities.
• Demonstrated people management capability, including performance development, coaching, workload management and managing performance
• a valid NSW Driver Licence and willingness to travel to project sites across the region, including occasional overnight stays

Highly regarded:

Experience delivering building, office fit-out, civil or similar infrastructure projects, together with experience administering GC21 and/or MW21 contracts

About Us

NSW Public Works is part of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and supports local and state government agencies to deliver critical infrastructure initiatives by providing expert advisory, planning, design, project and construction management and associated support services.

Our work is in hospitals, dams, water treatment plants and high schools, the real foundations of prosperous communities.

Every day we help shape the ambitious projects that bring progress to more people in NSW. From forging a more sustainable relationship with the land around us, to engineering the big ideas of the future. In every challenge we see the chance to build stronger and more connected communities.

Together, we are DPIRD

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) protects, supports and develops primary industries and regional economies.

Collectively we support strong and sustainable agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining industries, and regional economies. We actively manage our natural assets: our lands and soils, minerals, waterways and oceans, vegetation and forests.

The department brings together Local Land Services, NSW Resources, Agriculture and Biosecurity, Fisheries and Forestry, Regional Development and Delivery.

With the majority of the DPIRD team living and working in regional NSW, we are embedded in the regions we serve.

Learn more about the benefits of joining our diverse and talented DPIRD team.

Closing Date

Wednesday, 18 November 2026 at 11:55pm.

Additional Information

A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary roles of the same role or role type that may become available for filling over the next 18 months.

If you require adjustments in completing your application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, require information in an alternative format, or otherwise participating in the recruitment process, please let us know so we can assist. Send an email to [e-mail] or contact the hiring manager listed below for a confidential discussion.